A little more 'lounge and bar' in updated Bunker Cafe

The Bunker Cafe is leaning into late-night vibes with a new menu and a refreshed look.

The live music and recording venue had previously focused on a cafe menu of specialty coffee and sweet treats; but president Jereme Berg said the team had noticed that many customers coming to enjoy performances at the Bunker were looking for more varied food and drink offerings.  

“We still have the cafe and the coffee and everything,” explained Berg, “but we’ve turned into more of a lounge and bar.”

Stratford’s Black Angus Bakery & Catering will continue to provide desserts like cheesecake and key lime pie, but the Bunker customers now have the option to also enjoy savoury snacks like charcuterie boards, Caprese skewers, and taco-style dip served with tortilla chips. In addition, the Bunker is partnering with the Little Prince Micro-Cinema to serve its theatre-style popcorn. 

The Bunker is tapping into local suppliers for their drinks as well, with nearby Shakespeare Brewing Company providing its draft brews. The current line-up includes the Shakespeare 75 light beer, the Disobedient Dog red ale, and the full-bodied Classy Cow milk stout.

For cocktails, Berg said he wanted to riff on the Bunker’s existing cafe program.

“We were a cafe before and we didn't want to really lose that identity,” explained Berg. “So we’ve incorporated coffee into our cocktails.” 

The Bunker’s coffee cocktail menu includes favourites like an espresso martini and Irish coffee, along with original tipples, such as “All Jazzed Up,” a mix of cold brew coffee, Demerara, Shakespeare Brewing Company stout, amara, and coffee whisky.

“It's a mix of classic cocktails that people would be familiar with as well as ones that we created ourselves,” said Berg.

Berg has also developed his own spin on other tried-and-true cocktails, such as the Black Percussion, a twist on a Black Russian made with cold brew coffee, vodka, and kahlua.

“It’s made a little different and better, in my opinion."

The Bunker’s cocktail menu also covers standards like old fashioned, Negroni, and aperol spritz. 

Berg says the team has updated the Bunker’s interior to match its new, lounge-like vibe, including expanding the bar to accommodate the deeper drinks menu and revamping the front entryway.

“We turned it into a really cool, theatre-style entrance. There's a curtain when you enter the music hall area…and we reorganized the main seating area.”

The menus and aesthetic may have evolved but the Bunker’s live music programming will continue, including open mic nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Berg says the venue also recently added a new weekly event showcasing local musicians called Friday Night Sessions.

“We try to bring in anywhere from two to four artists each Friday night to do a 45-minute set each."

Berg hopes the changes at the Bunker will appeal to its music-loving clientele.

“It helps make the experience better for customers."

The Bunker Performance Lounge & Cafe

104 Wellington St., Stratford

bunkerstratford.com